TUAW's Daily App: Ash

Ash is a game that hearkens back to a simpler time, when strong RPG stories could be told in just two dimensions, and enemies randomly jumped on you in dungeons only to kindly wait their turn to attack during the actual battles. Yes, it's a Dragon Warrior-style RPG, and while the graphics actually place the game squarely in the 16-bit era, the gameplay is reminiscent of very old-school games, with an evil empire attacking the populace and a hero and his party caught in the middle of it all. Combat is turn-based, with each character choosing to attack, use skills, or heal, and townspeople not only provide you with something to do, they also offer up their shops and homes to your service as you roam the Empire of Aghaus.

If you've never played those old 16-bit RPGs, you might still enjoy this one. You might get lost in a few of the stranger conventions of the genre, though (and the difficulty -- you definitely need to be careful and do some leveling before wandering too far into the first few areas). But if you grew up with this kind of game, Ash will probably hit you right in the nostalgia bone. For those players, it's very well-worth US$4.99 on the App Store. Not only will you get a fun story and a solid experience to play through, but Ash will also help you remember all of those old worlds you visited before.